Report: Ohio State to hire Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash

Urban Meyer is taking hardly any time filling the voids in his coaching staff.

According to a report by SI.com Tuesday, Ohio State has hired Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash to be the team’s next co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Ash would replace the departed Everett Withers, who was announced as the next head coach at James Madison University Dec. 20.

Despite the report, an OSU spokesman did not confirm or deny the move.

“I don’t have any information I can share at this time,” the spokesman told The Lantern in an email Tuesday.

Current Arkansas coach Bret Bielema offered a statement about coaching changes on the football staff on Twitter, but did not name anyone specific.

“Have always felt transition on my staff has allowed us to get even better. Have had success hiring right people and will again. #woopig #1-0,” Bielema’s first tweet read, which was sent at 1 p.m Tuesday.

“Very happy for former coaches that decide to move to new challenges, the respect our staff gets nationally will continue to grow. #woopig,” Bielema said in a second tweet, sent approximately 12 minutes later.

The supposed move comes hours after a report that the Buckeyes had hired former Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson to the same position.

Prior to spending last season at Arkansas, Ash was a part of a Wisconsin coaching staff that helped lead the Badgers to three straight Rose Bowls from 2011-13. He is looked to bring stability to OSU’s defensive secondary, which finished ranked 112th in the nation last season giving up 268 yards per game.

OSU is set to open the 2014 season Aug. 30 against Navy at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.